A party of 9 met in the car park at The Ship PH. (The Ship is closed on Mondays but we had permission to park)
Did the usual walk to the Naze.
It was a beautiful summer's evening and the tide was coming in so sand banks were soon covered.
Returned by walking up Naze Lane East. Turned right and continued along the lane then finally through a hedge to pick up the outgoing route.
Some of the group retired to The Lea Gate PH.
The highlight of the walk was watching a Barn Owl quartering a field. It also perched and would dive into the grass. Truly spectacular.
Also it was a beautiful summer's evening.

Mute Swan 4
Canada Goose 20+ 
Mallard 10+ 
Shelduck 40+
Pheasant h
Grey Heron 3+
Little Egret 5+
Curlew 3
Oystercatcher h
Redshank 5+ 
Lapwing 5+
Swallow 2 
Common Tern 1
Black Headed Gull 3+
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Wood Pigeon 5+
Collared Dove 2
Barn Owl 1
Swift 3
Carrion Crow 5+
Magpie 1
Skylark h
Blackcap h
Chiff Chaff h
Whitethroat h
Wren h
Starling 3
Blackbird 2
Robin 1
Dunnock h
Tree Sparrow 1
Song Thrush h
Chaffinch h
Goldfinch h
Brown Hare 4
h=heard only

​A party of 9 met in the car park by the Cricket Pitch.
Did the usual "easy" walk south even though a Cuckoo was heard in the opposite direction.
Walked to the gate then returned and continued looking up along the ridge of Stronstrey Bank and for birds perched on the dead trees. One Kestrel was spotted.
Continued beyond the car park to a gate and a bridge to look for the illusive migrant without success. Returned via the Goit.
Some of the group retired to The Dressers Arms for a well deserved drink after a disappointing outing even though all the birds were heard singing and it was wet.
Mallard 5+
Pheasant 1
Kestrel (male)
Black Headed Gull 3+
Wood Pigeon 5+
Carrion Crow 5+
Cuckoo h
Willow Warbler h
Blackcap h
Chiff Chaff h
Wren h
Starling 3
Blackbird 2
Song Thrush h
Chaffinch h
h=heard only